Lakers Predicted to Sign 31-Year-Old Center This Offseason
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Dream Lakers Free Agent Signing Officially off the Market
The Houston Rockets re-signed Steven Adams to a three-year, $39 million deal. Adams played a key rotation and leadership role in the Rockets’ playoff run. The Rockets’ interest in taking care of free agency of Adams demonstrates how valuable they thought the New Zealander was for their success last year. This complicates matters for the Los Angeles Lakers as it takes one free agent off the market. The Lakers will have to resort to trades to find another big man to replace Adams.
Unfortunately, one of the big men who was near the top of their free agent list is no longer available. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Saturday that the Houston Rockets re-signed Steven Adams to a three-year, $39 million deal.
Rockets Re-Sign C Steven Adams Before Free Agency
Just In: Houston Rockets center Steven Adams has agreed to a three-year, $39 million contract extension to stay with the franchise, sources tell ESPN. After playing a key rotation and leadership role in the Rockets’ playoff run, the new deal keeps a top center out of free agency. pic.twitter.com/yWUnnQrRgh — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 14, 2025
The Rockets’ interest in taking care of free agency of Adams demonstrates how valuable they thought the New Zealander was for their success last year. Instead of risking the veteran center hitting the open market, the Rockets gave a potentially above-market price deal for Adams.
Considering how well Adams played in their first-round series against the Warriors, one can’t blame Houston for doing so. The 31-year-old increased his playing time to 22.1 minutes per game in the postseason, dominating on the boards and in the paint while looking as healthy and athletic as he looked in a long time.
This complicates matters for the Lakers as it takes one free agent off the market. There will be more competition for the remaining centers available. Considering that the likes of Naz Reid and Myles Turner will be out of LA’s price range, the Lakers will be in fierce competition to sign Brook Lopez, Al Horford, and Clint Capela.
The trade market remains a possibility for the Lakers. They have limited financial resources to sign two quality centers in free agency, so Pelinka will have to resort to trades to find another big man. Players like Walker Kessler, Jonas Valanciunas, and Nic Claxton will be some of the most talked-about centers on the trade block. Whether the Lakers aggressively pursue any of these names and which direction they will go remains to be seen.
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Lakers Expected to Make Push for Brooklyn Nets Center
The Lakers are targeting an athletic rim-running big man. After the voided trade for Mark Williams, two names to keep a close eye on this summer are Nic Claxton and Daniel Gafford.
After the voided trade for Mark Williams, two names to keep a close eye on this summer are Nic Claxton and Daniel Gafford.
Brooklyn has been open to moving Claxton, while Gafford is seeking an extension with a pay raise. pic.twitter.com/LluUGYrrPI
Failed Lakers Signing Can’t Accept His NBA Career is Over
Montrezl Harrell signed a two-year, $19 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2013. The center was traded to the Washington Wizards in the following offseason. Harrell spent last season playing for the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League. The 31-year-old says he would love to return to the NBA, but his injury history could hurt his chances of landing a contract with another team. He only played 70-plus games three times while hitting the 82-game mark once in an NBA career that spanned 13 years. He is turning 32 years old next January. The former Louisville Cardinal will be playing in the upcoming BIG 3 season.
Another signing who disappointed Lakers fans was Montrezl Harrell, who signed a two-year, $19 million contract ahead of the 2020-21 NBA season. The former NBA Sixth Man of the Year was disappointing throughout the first year of his deal, resulting in his being traded to the Washington Wizards in the following offseason.
Harrell’s departure from L.A. kickstarted his exit from the league, as he played for the Wizards and two more teams before spending last season overseas. The 31-year-old center signed a new contract with the National Basketball League’s Adelaide 36ers at the end of May, essentially signaling the end of his NBA career.
Despite that, Harrell still isn’t giving up on his dreams.
Former Lakers C Montrezl Harrell Can’t Accept NBA Career is Over
Harrell recently spoke with Scoop B’s Brandon Robinson ahead of the upcoming BIG 3 campaign, which the ex-Laker will be participating in. During the interview, the former Louisville Cardinal revealed that he’s still holding out hope for another NBA contract.
“NBA is something that I would definitely love to go back,” Harrell admitted; however, he acknowledged his injury history could hurt his chances. “At the end of the day, where I’m at in my life you gotta understand that I’ve had a great career and the way that the game looks at it when it comes to the NBA game, once you have an injury they start to write you off.”
Despite boasting plenty of talent, Harrell struggled to find a way to stay on the floor throughout his NBA career. He only played 70-plus games three times while hitting the 82-game mark once. His last season saw him only suit up 57 times with the Philadelphia 76ers before missing the entire 2023-24 campaign with a torn ACL.
In other words, it isn’t difficult to see why NBA teams aren’t blowing up his phone. His injury history combined with his turning 32 years old next January, is likely a major red flag for most teams, making it likelier that he’ll remain playing overseas until he eventually calls it a career.
Fortunately, Harrell seems to be doing well in the NBL. Suiting up 26 times for the 36ers last season, the frontcourt veteran averaged 20.7 points on .560/.320/.651 shooting splits while adding 9.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.0 steals per game.
A lengthy NBA career isn’t for anyone, so it’s nice to see the former Lakers center thriving in Australia — even if he can’t admit his time has passed him by.
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Veteran Center Should Be Lakers’ First Call When Free Agency Begins
Clint Capela is coming off a two-year, $45.88 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks. Capela averaged 8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and dished out 1.1 assists per game during the 2024-2025 season. The Lakers could offer Capela $10-$13 million a year for his services. He could thrive playing next to LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
One name to look out for is Clint Capela, who most recently played for the Atlanta Hawks.
Clint Capela Is a Fascinating Lakers FA Target
He is coming off a two-year, $45.88 million deal with the Hawks franchise. He is currently 31 years old and is entering this offseason as an unrestricted free agent. Capela averaged 8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and dished out 1.1 assists per game during the 2024-2025 season. He will certainly not command that much per year entering free agency. Because of the Lakers’ history, location, and who is on the Lakers roster, they could convince Capela to sign with the team in free agency.
Capela provides defensive stability and rim protection. In his last ten games of the 2024-2025 season, he blocked two shots per game. For the entire season, he averaged one block per game. Rim protection was a huge issue for the Lakers after they traded Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks. Capela is a flexible option because he is comfortable starting or coming off the bench. Capela and Hayes could be a strong 1-2 punch at center for the team.
The Lakers could offer Capela $10-$13 million a year for Capela’s services. It is highly doubtful that he will command what he made in his previous contract per year, making him a very realistic target. He could thrive playing next to LeBron James and Luka Doncic. He would get a lot of easy baskets and lob dunks from the two Lakers stars. He could also capitalize on scoring a lot of second-chance baskets and, of course, be a big value add defensively. Let’s see if GM Rob Pelinka agrees and signs him this summer.
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